Touch is one of the most powerful elements of our lives. We know that babies that go without touch “fail to thrive” and often die. There are many types of touch and many ways in which we receive touch. The reason we are touched, the way we are touched, the emotions of the person being touched, as well as the emotions of the person providing the touch - all factor in to the “touch “experience. When this concept is applied to a bodywork session, there are many important things for us to look at.
Responsible touch is the building block for establishing TRUST with your clientele. Without your ability to establish trust, it may be difficult to create a solid practice. As therapists, looking at our own touch issues in our lives is very important. We may have touch issues that remain unhealed as bodyworkers, which have the potential of getting in the way of our ability to provide healthy touch for our clients.
Clients seek bodywork for a variety of reasons. Most of the reasons relate to stress in the mind, body or soul. They may want to have you touch them as they “check out” of their daily reality. They may go sound asleep if your touch is gentle and flowing, or become agitated if you do something they have asked you not to do. Remember, not every client will express to you their likes and dislikes. Some of us, as a matter of conditioning, believe that asking for something we need, or asking someone not to do something, falls into a category involving judgement. These are “people pleasers” and they will “put-up” with uncomfortable positions, strokes, pressure and any number of dis-eases that may be related to the bodywork they are receiving.
It is important as therapists that we have our ego in check. It leaves us open to hear what our client and their body is telling us about their touch issues. Are they afraid to be undraped? Do they not enjoy having certain parts of their body massaged? Is there pain somewhere that requires you to pay special attention while in that area? The body, if you listen to it, will tell you what the client may not be able to verbally express. The ability to do that gets better with experience, but anyone, at any level, can detect when someone tightens up when touched, or their breathing changes as a result of touch. It is not unusual for a client to express an emotional release as a result of touch during a session.
All therapists need to touch with proper intent and the desire to help in the healing of another human. All massage and bodywork is healing when done with the correct intent, full focus, reflective listening and no attachment to the experience of the client. When we work with pure intent and our leading focus is to establish trust, then the healing of the client will be exactly what it is supposed to be. You, the therapist are the facilitator; the client is the actual healer. We all heal ourselves, sometimes with the help of others. It is healthy to empower your clients with their own ability to heal and to shift responsibility for their healing on to them, where it is supposed to be.
Compassion and empathy are very different when applied to healing modalities. Most massage therapists are empathic by nature. We draw to us people who seek healing, mostly because of our own healing journey. Touch with compassion and use your empathy for understanding the silent and spoken words regarding touch. Touch is primal. We all need it and respond to it. There is a responsibility as a bodyworker to behave with the highest of integrity and purest of intent in all areas of bodywork.
Robin Gayle graduated from Healing Arts Institute in 1998 and has taken many advanced classes since then, including Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Rain Drop Therapy, Reflexology, Oncology Massage, Cranial Sacral, Soft Tissue Release and Maya Abdominal Massage. Robin has a private practice and works extensively with cancer patients and the terminally ill. She is also a Bereavement Specialist and Counselor and is a member of the American Academy of Bereavement Specialists. Robin stays involved with hospice organizations and is on the Board of Directors for Compassion in Action which offers comfort care for the terminally ill. As an Allied Health Care Provider for Sutter Cancer Center in Sacramento, Robin brings compassion and clinical experience into her teachings and workshops.
Robin teaches in the Massage Therapy Training at Healing Arts Institute, as well as these advanced classes:
Hospital Based Massage Oncology Massage The Sacred Belly Touch Therapy for the Terminally Ill
